Tube-cutting machine



E. S. LEA.

TUBE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 1921.

Patented June 27, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

EL Sl LEAl TUBE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3o, |921..

l ,42 1 2 3. Patented J une 27, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

F595. l n '-6 E.. S.. LEA.

TUBE CUTTING MACHINE'. APPLICATION man APR. 30, 192|..

Patented June 27, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

EDWARD S. LEA, 0F TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 'ULYSSES GRAN T KIENG, 0F

' TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

TUBE-CUTTING' MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Ptl-mted Jun@ 27, 19220 Application filed `Apri1 30, 1921. Serial No.74165,8f2.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known -that I, EDWARD S. LEA, a citizen of the United States, residing in Trenton, New Jersey, have invented a Tube- Cutting Machine, of which the following is a specl cation.

My invention relates to the manufacture of copper ferrules of the type employed, among other things, for securing the tubes of boilers to the tube sheets, the object of my invention being to provide a machine for cutting copper tubinginto lengths suitable for this purpose.

Heretofore it has been the custom in making copper ferrules to press them up by means of suitable dies out of sheet copper, and it has been found impracticable to employ tubing in the manufacture of these articles due to the fact that no practicable machine has been available capable of satisfactorily cutting the sections from the copper tubing.

A machine capable of successfully performing this ywork I hereinafter describe ings, in which:

Figure 1, is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 2, is a side elevation;

Fig. 3, is a dissociated plan View of the cutting head of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the cutting head;

Fig. 5 is a dissociated plan view of the feeding mechanism.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the feeding mechanism, and

Fig. 7, is a section on the line 7-7, Fig. 6.

With reference to the drawings, the machine comprises in its present form a suitable base or pedestal 1 having mounted thereon in suitable bearings 2, four horizontally disposed and parallel shafts 3, 4, 5 and 6. The said shaft 3 carries at its outer end, in the present instance, a pulley 7 by means of which the shaft may be connected to any suitable source of power (not shown), while on the inner end of the shaft 3 is a gear pinion 8 which intermeshes with a gear wheel 9 upon the shaft 5. The shaft 5 carries also a pinion 10 which meshes with a gear 11 uponvthesshaft 4, and a second pinion 12 which mesh-es with a gear 13 upon the shaft 6. By means of these gear trains the shafts 4, 5 and .6, are all operatively con-- and illustrate in the accompanying draw.

nected together' and with the shaft 3 through which the motive power of the machine is ap lied. l Y

arried on the forward end of the shaftv 6 is a rotary cutter disk 14, said disk being shaped as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and being substantially circular in form, with a flange or peripheral extension 15 at 4the inner edge thereof which extends around substantially two-thirds of the circumference of the disk.

Upon the forward end of the shaft 5 is a cutting head or 'mandrel 16, the forward face of which is adapted normally to lie substantially in the same plane as the rearward face of the cutting disk 14, as shown in Fig. 3, said head A`16 being so disposed laterally of the disk 14 that while the said flange 15 of the disk 14 will overlap the face of the mandrel 16, the unflanged portion 14a of the disk 14 will not overlap the face of the head but `will lie outwardly of the peripheryv of the said head, in the manner shownin Figs. 3 and 4. The diameter of the mandrel 16 is increased at the outer end to form a head 16a, the periphery of which is knurled as shown in Fig. 3.

A supporting disk 17 is rotatably mounted upon a bracket 18 carried by the base 1, and l is disposed slightly in advance of the forward face of and below` the said mandrel 16 and on the opposite side of said mandrel from the cutting disk 14. The said bracket 18 in the present instance is pivotally mounted at the bottom and has a circumferential slot 19 therein through which extends a bolt 2O bymeans of which the said bracket is held in any desired fixed position, said slot.with the pivotal -mounting of the bracket providing means for adjusting the supporting disk 17 toward and away from the said head 16.

The shaft 5 is movable axially in its bearings, and means isprovided for intermittently reciprocating the said shaft rearwardly in its bearings at predetermined intervals,said shifting means comprising an arm 21 oscillatory upon a vertically disposed pivot 21a upon the base 1, said arm having'its free end disposed within the c1rcumferential groove 22 of a cam 23 mounted upon the shaft'4. The arm 21 is also disposed intermediate its ends' between two suitably placed collars orv extensions 24, 24

that as the shaft-4 rotates carrying with it the cam 23, the shaft 5 will be given an intermittent reciprocatory movement rearwardly from the normal position in which it is indicated in the drawings. In the present instance, the collars 24 upon the shaft 5 consist of a pair of ball bearing races 25, 25, which are heldin place against the opposite sides of the arm 21 by 'means of nuts 26, 26. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the pinions 8 and 12 4and the gear wheel l1 are made sufficiently wide tol accommolate thisaxial movement 4of the .shaft 5, while retaining the inter* connection between the respective shafts.

Extending forwardly from the bearing 2 at the Aforward end of the shaft 5, is a cylindrical sleeve 27 into which the said head 16 is adapted to move when the shaft 5 is shifted rearwardly in the manner described, said sleeve 27 having a series of radial openings extending therethrough, in each of which is disposed a plunger 28, said plungers being retained normally with their inner ends resting against the surface of the mandrel16, by means of an endless spiral spring 2 9 extending completely around the periphery of the sleeve 27 and bearing against the outer ends of the said plungers 28, which are suitably recessed to form sockets for the reception and retention of the spring, It will 5 be noted that as the shaft 5 is shifted rearter at the same time are retained in contact with the surface of the said head. Y

The operation of the lmechanism thus far described is as follows:

V A tube is fed forward so that the end of the tubing passes onto the mandrel 16, the end edge thereof abutting the sides of the plungers 2 8, this passage of the tube over the head being possible when the unflanged portion/ 14EL of the disk 14 is in the position shown in the drawings. As the parts con,- tinue to revolve, the flange 15 ofl the disk 14 is brought into contact with the side of the tubing, and first forces it laterally against the knurled surface of the head 16, insuring thereby the rotation of the tubing with the mandrel, and thereafter in conjunction with the said mandrel 16, shears a portion of the tubing from the body thereof, the disk 17 acting to properly support thel end ofthe tube during and after the shearing operation.

Immediately following the completion of the shearing, the mandrel 16 is withdrawn into the sleeve 27 in the manner previously described, the plungers 28 functioning as wipers to prevent the entrance into the said sleeve 27 of the severed portion of the tubing, which latter portion, when thehead 16 has been completely withdrawn, is permitted For supporting the tube in the proper feeding position and for feeding the tube at the proper intervals forwardly onto the mandrel, 16, I provide the following mechanism: Extending forwardly from the base membe-r 1 and between the said base 1 and a second base member 30, is a pair of spacedy angle irons 31, 31, said angle irons being substantially par'allel to the shafts 3, 4, 5 and 6, and each having a web 31n disposed vertically to constitute tracks for a carriage 32, which carriage has at one side a pair of wheelsA 33, 33, grooved to fit the edge of the said webs 31a, and having atthe opposite side a suitable wheel or roller 34 which is adapted to travel uponu the said web 31a of the oposite 'angle iron 31. Also extending between the bases l and 30 and overlying the said carriage 32 is a rack 35, the teeth or notches of whichv are on the under side, as shown in Figs. 2V and 6, and secured to the carriage 32, and extending upwardly there; from at one side 'of the rack 35 is a bracket 36 which carries at the top a spindle 37, upon which is a grooved wheel 38 overlying and adapted to travel along` thie upper edge of the said rack 35. Extending laterally from the said bracket 36 is a horizontally disposed bearing sleeve 40, in which sleeve is journaled a shaft 413 'having at the outer end thereof an operating arm or lever 42, and on the inner end a disk 43, from which extends an eccentrically disposed pin 44, which occupies a suitable recess or aperture in a pawl 46, said pawl being supported entirely upon.

the said pin44, and having its forward end adapted to engage the teeth of the Vrack 35, in engagement with which teeth the said forward end is retained by means of a suitable counterweight 47, which is carried by a rearward extension 46a of the said pawl.

Pivotally secured to the said bracket at 50 is a second detent 51, which extends in the oppositeV direction vfrom the detent 46, the outer end of the said detent 51 being adapted to engage the teeth of the rack, and said outer end being retained inengagernent with said teeth by means of a spring 52 which 4is connected to the top of the bracket 36 and to the outer end of the detent. Means is also provided for maintaining' a constantv rearward tension upon the carriage, said means consisting in the present instance of a\\cord 75 secured to the carriage and to which a counterweight (not shown) is attached. w

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that oscillation of the operating lever 42 first. rearwardly and then forwardly will effect the shifting ofthe carriage to the extent of one or more teeth ofthe rack 35, the amount of the forward feeding of the disk- 42, adapted to engage a suitable lug or stop 54 when theoperating lever 42 is oscillated to the full desired extent.

Also mounted upon the carriage is a chuck 60 for holding the tubing, said chuck being connected by means of a universal joint 61 to a spindle 62 rotatably mounted in a suitable 'bearing 63 on the said carriage, said bearing 68 being carried in the present instance upon a suitable slide 64 mounted in vertically disposed slideways 65 in asecond slide 66 mounted in turn in suitable horizontally disposed slideways 67 in a depending bracket 68 upon the said carriage. A screw 69 is attached to the slide 64 at the bottom thereof and extends through a threaded lug 70 on the slide 66, and a suitable operating wheel or handle 71 is attached to the said screw whereby the slide 64 may be shifted vertically in the said 'slideways 65. Suitable screw feeding means 72 is also provided upon the slide 66 for feeding this latter slide horizontally in its slideways 67. By this means both a vertical and horizontal adjustment of the chuck 60 and the bearing 63 is provided for. The universal joint 61 accommodates the irregularmovement of the end of the tube at the cutting head, while the adjustments of the bearing 63 provide for changing the alignment of the tubes in accorda-nce with their diameters.

In operating the machine, the operator standing with his hand upon the lever 42 feeds forwardly at the proper moments the tubing held in the chuck by manipulation of the said lever inthe manner specified, the tubing being'fed onto the mandrel each time that the unanged portion 14a of the disk 14 lies opposite thereto.

I preferably make the .rack 35 detachable from its supporting members 35a and 35, to which in the present instance it is attached by means of bolts 35C, so that one rack may be replaced by others in which the teeth have a di'erent pitch, thus providing feeding means for ferrules of any desired length.

I claim:

1. In a tube cutting machine, th'e combination with internal and external shearing elements, of mechanism for freeing the internal element of the severed portion of a tube operated upon to permit the feeding thereto of the uncut portion of the tube.

2. In a tube cutting machine, the combination with internal and external shearing elements, of mechanism for feeding a tube intermittently to the said elements, and mechanism for freeing the internal element of the severed portions to permit the feeding thereto of the uncut portion of the tube.

3. In a tube cutting machine, the combination with a rotary element adapted to envter the interior of the tube through an end thereof, of a second rotary element the axis of which is fixed relative to the axis of the said inner element, said outer element having a peripheral recess providing a space between the periphery of the inner element and the periphery of the outer element at said recess permitting the passing of the tube over the said inner element.

4. In a tube cutting machine, the combination with an element adapted to "enter the tube through an end thereof, of a second element relatively fixed with respect to the first and adapted to operate against the outer face of said tube and together with the said inner element to shear the tube, and means for interrupting the operation of said outer element to permit the passing of the tube over the said inner element.

5. In a tube cutting machine, the combination with a rotary element adapted to enter the tube-through an end thereof, of a continuously rotated element whose axis 1s relatively fixed with respect to that of lthe said rotary element adapted to operate upon the outer surface ofv said tube and in conjunction with thesaid inner element to shear the tube, and means for interrupting the shearing action of said elements to permit the passage of the tube over thesaid inner element.

6. In a tube cutting machine, the combination with a supporting element adapted to enter the interior of the tube through an end thereof, of a shearing element adapted yto operate upon the outer surface of the tube and in conjunction with said support to shear the said tube, and mechanism for shifting said sup-porting element away from the severed portion of the tube to release said severed portion. l

7. In a tube cutting machine, the combination of a pair of continuously rotating shearing elements, one of which is adapted to enter the interior of the tube and the other to operate upon the exterior of the tube, and

means for interrupting the shearing action of said elements to permit the passage of the tube over the'said inner element. S. `In a. tube cutting machine, the combination of a pair of continuously rotating shearing elements, one of which elements is adapted to enter the interior of the tube through the end thereof'and the other of said elements to operate upon the exterlor of said tube, means for interrupting 'the Ashearing action of said elements to permit the passage of the tube over the said inner element, and mechanism operable after the severing of each section from the tube for withdrawing said inner element to release the said severed portion of the tube.

9. In a tube cutting machine, the combination of a pair of rotary shearing elements, one of which is adapted to enter the interior of the tube and the other of which is adapted to opera-te upon the exterior of the tube,

' tube onto the said inner ele-ment, and mechanism for intermittenltly withdrawing the the said inner element to release the severed sections of the tube.

10. In a tube cutting machine, the combination of a rotating element adapted to enter the interior of the tube through one end, a second rotating element adapted to operate upon the outside of said tube and in conjunction with the said inner element to sever a portion of the tube, a member adapted to grip the other end of the tube, a member rotatably mounted substantially in alignment with'said inner element, and a universal connection between the said rotatable member and the tubegripping member.

l1. In a tube cutting machine, the combination of a rotating element adapted to enter the tube through one end thereof, a`

second rotating element adapted .to operate against the outer surface of said tube and in connection with said first member to sever a portion of the tube, a member adapted to grip the other end of said tube, a member rotatably mounted substantially in alignment with said first named rotating member, a universal connection between the tube gripping means and the rotatably mounted member, and means for adjusting the said latter member to different positions relative to `the said first named rotating element.

l2. In a tube cutting machine, the combination with a rotating element adapted to enter the interior of a tube through one end thereof, a second rotating element adapted to operate against the outside of said tube and in conjunction with said first element to sever a portion therefrom, va carriage movable toward and away from first element and substantially axially thereof, rotatable means carried by said carriage for gripping the other end of said tube, and means for intermittently advancing the said carriage toward the said first named element in predetermined steps. Y y

13. In a tube cutting machine, the combination of a rotating element adapted to enter a tube through one end thereof, a second'rotating element adapted to operate against the outside of said tube and in conjunction with said inner element to sever a portion therefrom, a carriage movable toward and from said yfirst element and substntially axially thereto, means upon the said carriage for rotatably supporting the outer end of said tube, a relatively fixed rack, a pawl carried by the carriage and adapted to engage the teeth of said rack,

and means for shifting said pawl a predetermined amount to effect the moyement of said carriage toward the severing elements.

14. In a tube cutting machine, the combination of a rotating element adapted to enter a tube through one end, thereof, a second rotating element adapted to operate against the exterior of said tube and in conjunction with said first element to sever po-rtions therefrom, a fixed sleeve mounted rearwardly of said first element, means for rearwardly of said first element, means for withdrawing said element into the sleeve and elements carried by said sleeve and adapted to bear against the periphery of said element as it is withdrawn into the sleeve, substantially for the purpose set forth.

16. In a tube cutting machine, the combination with a rotating element adapted to enter a tube through one end thereof, a second rotating element adapted to operate upon the outer surface o-f said tube and in conjunction with said first element to sever portions therefrom, a sleeve mounted rearwardly of said first element, means for withdrawing said element into the sleeve, elements movably mounted in said sleeve and disposed radially of said rotating element, and resilient means tendin to retain the inner ends of said radially disposed elements in contact with the surface of said rotating element. y

17. In a tube cuttin machine, the combination of a rotating element adapted to enter the interior of aA tube through one end thereof, a second rotating element adapted to bear against the outside of said` tube first to force the said tube tightly against the inner element whereby said tufbe is rotated with said element and thereafter to operate in conjunction with the said inner element to shear a portion of thetube, and means for rotatably and flexibly supporting the outer end of said tube.

-EDWARD S. LEA. 

